Food Blogger Journey: Expanding the Journey One Mile at a Time

By Dirk Ebener - June 12, 2026

How Planning My First RV Adventure Across America Is Becoming Part of the Journey Itself

Before you keep reading:

• With over 3,000 miles stretching before me, I find the journey weaving itself into my everyday routine long before the first mile is traveled.

• Between Georgia and New Mexico, new faces, untold stories, and conversations waiting to unfold are scattered along the road ahead.

• Route 66 offers more than a destination; it invites me to slow down, wander, and discover the hidden wonders beyond each exit sign.

• The RV may be the tool for this adventure, but the real focus remains on people, food, culture, and the experiences that connect them.

• Even before the engine rumbles to life, I am discovering that anticipation is its own kind of journey—a lesson travel continues to teach me.

* * * *

For much of my personal and professional life, travel has meant boarding airplanes, crossing oceans, and discovering destinations through food, culture, history, and conversations with people from around the world. Over the years, those experiences eventually became the foundation of Food Blogger Journey.

Lately, though, my perspective on travel has shifted. My gaze no longer drifts across oceans, but sweeps across America. Instead of crafting another international itinerary, I find myself dreaming of a journey where the road itself writes the story.

For years, the thought of an RV adventure lingered quietly in the corners of my mind. Like so many travel dreams, it surfaced now and then, only to be set aside for other plans and priorities. This year, however, the idea returned with greater clarity. If I were going to explore America differently, I wanted a route that celebrated the journey as much as the destination. That search eventually led me to Route 66.

* * * *

Looking Beyond the Destination

As the plans slowly come together, I realize that more than 3,000 miles of road lie ahead. Along those miles are local restaurants I have never visited, communities I have never explored, and stories I have yet to discover. The RV remains parked, reservations are still being researched, and the route continues to evolve. 

Yet each evening spent poring over maps, diving into campground reviews, and uncovering hidden gems not found in guidebooks feels like a step closer to the adventure. Though departure is still months away, the journey has already found its way into my daily rhythm.

What draws me to those miles is not the pavement, but the people waiting along the way. Between Georgia and New Mexico, there are restaurant owners greeting the dawn, campground neighbors eager to swap stories, and locals whose knowledge outshines any guidebook.

My most cherished travel memories have begun with a simple hello, and I have a feeling this journey will be rich with such moments.

* * * *

When Food Connects People

I aI catch myself daydreaming about the meals that await along the route. Between Georgia and New Mexico, family-run diners serve up breakfast before dawn, neighborhood cafés buzz with morning rituals, and roadside restaurants quietly weave themselves into local history.

Even before I arrive, I am hungry for the stories behind the menus, the recipes handed down through generations, and the hands that bring them to life. I suspect the most unforgettable meals will be remembered not for what is on the plate, but for the laughter, traditions, and stories shared across the table. Route 66 continues to capture my attention because it seems to encourage this kind of travel.

It invites people to slow down, leave room for curiosity, and explore what exists beyond the next turn in the road. Somewhere along those more than 3,000 miles are small towns I have never explored, restaurants I have never discovered, and stories I have not yet heard.

I find myself wondering about the family-owned diner that has served travelers for decades, the bakery known only to local residents, or the historic downtown district that many people simply drive past. Long before I begin the trip, those possibilities are already becoming part of the journey.

One realization that continues to shape this adventure is that meaningful travel does not require crossing an ocean. Food Blogger Journey has always been about people, food, culture, and stories. Those interests remain the same.

The shift is not in what I seek, but in where I choose to look.

As I map out this Route 66 adventure, I wonder what stories are waiting just beyond my familiar horizon. Which communities have I hurried past without a second glance? What traditions, local gatherings, and conversations are tucked along roads I have yet to wander?

The more I plan, the more I realize that curiosity has no geographic boundaries.

I am not changing what I look for when I travel.

I am simply changing where I am looking.

The deeper I get into planning, the less the RV itself matters. What excites me are the possibilities unfolding beyond the windshield. A fellow traveler’s tip could spark a detour. A local eatery might turn an ordinary day into something unforgettable. A single conversation could reveal a town I never meant to find. The RV is simply my ticket to follow wherever curiosity leads.

* * * *

Discovering That Planning Is Part of the Experience

One of the most enjoyable parts of every journey is discovering that planning itself becomes part of the experience.

What starts as simple route research or comparing campgrounds often transforms into an evening of unexpected discovery. A tip about a campground leads me to a nearby town, where I stumble upon a local restaurant. That meal reveals a slice of Route 66 history I never knew, and suddenly, a new chapter of the journey unfolds.

The route keeps changing, and so does my anticipation. I picture myself savoring a quiet coffee before the day’s drive, wandering through unfamiliar towns, or swapping stories with fellow travelers as the sun dips below the horizon.

Hidden along those 3,000 miles are conversations yet to unfold, meals waiting to be savored, and communities still unknown to me. I cannot predict where these moments will happen, and that mystery is part of the thrill. The most treasured travel memories rarely make it onto an itinerary. They appear when curiosity takes the wheel and we give ourselves permission to pause, listen, and truly explore.

In many ways, planning is allowing me to experience part of the journey before departure day arrives.

* * * *

What I Hope to Find Along the Way

RV travel means embracing life with less space. As I consider what to pack, I realize every item must earn its place. Surprisingly, this challenge brings a sense of joy, inviting me to savor simplicity.

This process reminds me that the richest travel memories rarely come from what we pack. They are born from a stranger’s kindness, a meal shared with friends, a surprise discovery, or a breathtaking view that arrives just when we need it.

Looking out at the miles stretching beyond my driveway, I feel pulled toward the idea of slowing down. Route 66 seems to champion this approach. Instead of racing from place to place, it urges travelers to linger, notice the small details, wander down side roads, and stay open to whatever they might find.

What began as planning a single RV trip has gradually evolved into something larger. It has become an opportunity to explore America with the same curiosity that has guided Food Blogger Journey from the beginning. That realization inspired the creation of RV Travel Across America—not as a replacement for Food Blogger Journey, but as another way to experience travel and share the stories discovered along the way.

* * * *

The Heart of the Story

A few years ago, this journey was simply an idea that appeared from time to time before giving way to other plans. Today, it feels very different. The maps are spread across my desk, the route is slowly taking shape, and the anticipation grows with every new discovery.

Somewhere along those 3,000 miles are people I have not yet met, meals I have not yet tasted, and stories I have not yet heard. I do not know exactly where those moments will happen, and that uncertainty may be one of the most exciting parts of the journey.

The departure date remains months away. The RV is still parked. Yet with every mile I imagine traveling, the journey feels a little more real.

And that may be the greatest lesson of all: sometimes the adventure begins long before the engine starts. Even now, the journey is already underway.

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Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, and author of “Travel That Makes Sense”, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish and step at a time.

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